McMinn County woman arrested for father's murder

MEIGS COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – Two McMinn County residents have been arrest for the murder of a Meigs County man.

Grady Nichols, Jr., 66 of Decatur was death on the front porch of his home Brickle Road home on September 19th. Authorities said he had been shot once in his chest.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced Friday afternoon that James L. Landers, 45 of Athens had been arrested and charged with first degree murder in Nichols death.

Just after 9:00 p.m. on Friday, the Ninth Judicial District announced it had arrested Nichols daughter and charged her with first degree murder.

Jennifer Womac, 36 of Niota was taken into custody after attending her father’s funeral, graveside service and family memorial service.

According to the murder warrant, both suspects planned the murder in advance. On the September 19th, Womac allegedly drove Landers to her father’s house, dropped him off and left the scene. She later returned to the scene after the shooting, left once more to pick up Landers at a different location and drove him back to Athens.

Investigators said they had evidence directly linking Landers to the case. They did not reveal anything specific about what type of evidence had been gathered. Both suspects were incarcerated late Friday night at the Meigs County Jail on $500,000 bonds.

Both Landers and Womac are currently incarcerated at the Meigs County Jail under $500,000 bond each pending a preliminary hearing date in Meigs County General Sessions Court that has not yet been set by the Court.

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